Last Day on the River

It's very sad that last night was our last night on the river. This has truly been a once in a lifetime adventure and in spite of a "series of misfortunate incidences," it has been one I will never forget. Thank you Nick for all of your hard work and your many hours of "internet surfing" finding the perfect ten year anniversary venue for us! Good job you!

Onto Paris!

Boxing Day - The best day ever!

Our luggage has been located! Eight days after we arrived in Germany our luggage has finally caught up with us. Well, we don't actually have the bags of course, but they have been found! The Air France website just posted an update saying all three pieces are "At the airport." We do not know for sure exactly which airport, but we're assuming Charles De Gaul in Paris, versus say Miami International!!

This means I will actually have clothes to wear in Paris and won't have to celebrate my 10 year wedding anniversary in dirty jeans, wet boots and a tee shirt!

Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus!

Christmas in Germany 2009

Apparently you can teach and old dog new tricks! Who knew Bourbon (either straight or mixed with honey & hot water) is an excellent remedy for sore ribs, stuffy noses, and the "lost luggage" Christmas Blues. Amazing!

It's Christmas day and a wonderful day it is. I'm sitting in the lounge, listening to Bing Crosby singing classic Christmas carols, while looking out across the choppy river at colorful flags and icy tree branches that are blowing in the wind. The sky is patchy grey and it looks like it could start snowing at any minute. Beautiful. Merry Christmas.

It's traditional in a lot of places in Europe to have the "big" Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve versus Christmas Day... We had our big bash last night with a lovely dinner dancing and then drinking and dancing till dawn (well okay, midnight!)

Despite a series of unfortunate incidences we are having the most wonderful time. We

have met some very interesting people and perhaps made some new friends. Although we

are missing friends and family this experience has been one we will never forget not could

we ever recreate.

On this day, especially on this day we will take time to remember just how blessed we

really are.

Merry Christmas to you and your families.

Peace, M

December 24th 2009

As I quickly reached down to pick up the item I had dropped during dinner I heard (and felt) the "pop" a split second before I actually felt the pain. Apparently the speed at which I had moved to catch the dropped item, along with the force at which the arm of the chair pushed in between my two ribs, was the cause of the "pop" and of the excruciating pain that followed.

Sleeping was a nightmare as I couldn't sleep on my left or right side... Coughing or sneezing is absolutely out of the question! Deep breaths are not fun and there's not much to laugh about, so I'm okay there!

Luckily Bob (from our new friends Bob and Vicky) is a doctor. A short discussion over breakfast concluded with a possible diagnosis of either a bruised rib or possibly a ruptured ligament (the stuff in between the ribs). In either case expect a lot of pain, take Ibuprofen three to four times a day and don't cough or sneeze. Wundervoll!

Day 5 and the luggage is still MIA. The cruise director (no her name is not Julie!) has spoken to Air France several times, but to no avail. They do not know where exactly the luggage is, but they are very sure it will turn up. Mercy.

So far (in spite of everything) we are having a wonderful time. Germany is beautiful if not a bit chilly! (...but then again if we had the right clothes,we wouldn't be cold!) The people (although not as warm and friendly as Italians) are very nice and most everyone speaks English. It's really gray and quiet and there is a mist that covers the tops of trees and tall buildings.

Tonight is the Christmas Eve dinner (Semi-formal, you say? Fantastic!) and then tomorrow on to Mainz.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

M

Yes, Virginia there really is a Santa Claus!

Yesterday was cold and wet. Although the town we visited (Someplacegberg) was very quaint and the architecture quite beautiful my new cheap clothing did not keep me warm or dry, so it was really hard to enjoy what the town had to offer.

The days activities consisted of the following; a tour of the town, lunch on the ship, a nap, dinner and then off to bed.... Needless to say I'm not over exerting myself.

In addition to the missing luggage saga, I seem to have picked up a stomach bug! So between touring, eating and napping, there were numerous trips to the restroom! The Bar Captain will never know how lucky he is that his wine stock will be left intact. I have absolutely no appetite for any kind of alcohol, let alone wine! I know, huh!!!

Well, it's now the start of a new day and I woke up feeling like crap. I apparently have a cold coming on. *laughing*

"Yes, Virginia there really is a Santa Claus!" He is apparently evil and mean, but he does exist!

Let the Cruise begin....

Exhausted by a day of stressful "power" shopping, we boarded the Amalyra late yesterday afternoon. The faces of the crew members who greeted us, said it all. We apparently looked as bad as we felt. Tired, stressed, cold and wet we boarded, not with our luggage, but with an array of plastic bags from the days shopping marathon! I've learned that clothes shopping is fun only when it's something you want to do, it 's not so much fun when it's something you have to do. ...and what the heck size am I anyway? 38? 42? In some things I fit into a "M," but in others an "L." Needless to say I bought all the items sized "M."

By the way when did maternity clothes become so cool and trendy? More than once I unknowingly wandered into the Maternity department! I'd have an armful of things before looking around and noticing I was the only menopausal age woman, not sporting a baby bump! Sheepishly, I'd put back my items and wander back to shopping hell.

The ship/boat (not sure what to call it yet) is beautiful, once you are on-board. However, as the taxi pulled up along side of it, I was somewhat dismayed to see a long, chunky, royal blue, box shaped vessel, that looked more like it should be towing toxic waste! However, once on-board I was pleasantly surprised to see a beautifully decorated, very modern, luxury passenger vessel! Whew!

The smiling crew was all lined up to greet us as we came aboard... This young man grabbing shopping bags from Nick while another performed surgery to remove the what had become plastic "wires" embedded in the palms of my hands. Welcome aboard Mrs White! The cabin is lovely and very spacious! queen size bed, big picture window and a good sized bathroom with a powerful shower. A beautiful flower arrangement and a much needed bottle of wine awaited us! (Thank you Joyce, what class act you are!) The wine was immediately opened and the evening began!

Dressing for dinner was fun, as I actually got to put on something other that the jeans and top I had been wearing for the last 72 hours! One small oversight though, other than the wet, muddy shoes I had worn on the plane and through the streets of Nuremberg, I had no shoes!

Anyone who know me, knows that I have a bit of a bohemian streak... so entering the dinning room wearing a black and grey asymmetrical top, black leggings and bare foot (except for the Christmas Red pedicure I had thankfully had on Friday!) was not something that I didn't absolutely enjoy! Hey, they're going to notice you anyway, so you might as well make them remember you! Needless to say Nick and I were a big hit! Everyone wanted to talk to the bedraggled looking couple, one of which was shoeless!

A good time was had by all, as one glass of white wine turned into two and then three... Oh, and a champagne toast for good luck before the "night cap" and before I knew it I was sleeping comfortably (or was I passed out)?

It's official.... our luggage (all of our luggage) is lost!

#@!&^

Es ist eiskalt!

Day two in Nuremberg and still no luggage. Yes all 3 bags, carrying everything we own, are missing! They are not in Miami, not in Paris and definitely not here in Nuremberg! I would cry but it would only get the only clothes I have wet and salty, so that is not an option! ...and besides I already did that earlier and to no avail... our luggage did not re-appear.

I have only a pair of jeans, a long sleeve tee shirt, a "fishnet sweater", and my friends borrowed leather jacket. No make-up, no hair products and well, I'm feeling very "earthy."

With that ... I am with the man I love and I'm feeling blessed. I'm in a white, snowy storybook wonderland!

Time Travel

Here we are... 20 hours after leaving Pembroke Pines, we have finally arrived in Nuremberg Germany, at the Hotel Vosteen. We are of course missing 3 out of 3 bags, but we are here!

"Delay" was the word of the day. "Delay" leaving Miami. "Delay" leaving Paris. Luggage is "delayed" and will not arrive until tomorrow. Wunderbare! ...but nevertheless here we are and it is magnificent!

It's freezing cold, snowing and there are Christmas lights everywhere. It not only looks like Christmas, it smells like Christmas here! There are lit candles in holders outside the homes and restaurants, real Christmas trees and wreaths adorn doors, tables and walls. At the airport we saw Santa's "real" outfit, enclosed in a glass display!

We ate our first meal in a restaurant called L' Osteria. It was a quaint little Italian place about as big as my kitchen/den area. The food was phenomenal and the people watching was about a 9.5 out of 10.0! The house red wine wasn't too bad either!

So with full bellies, and warm feet (finally) I will leave you here. We are wondering what tomorrow will bring? LUGGAGE one hopes, but only time will tell.

*yawn*

Gute Nacht

Takeoff Temporarily Aborted

Yes, because there's not already enough stress associated with traveling, internationally in cold, snowy, icy conditions... the universe has decided to have some more fun with us. Our flight is delayed by two hours. It's really ok with me though, as we found out first thing this morning and I'd much rather spend the time here at home, than sitting in the Miami airport, so I guess it's all good. It will give the Charles De Gaul Airport ground crew more time to make sure the runway is nicely salted! Merci guys!

So back to why this trip is even happening.... On January 1, 2010, Nick and I will have been married for 10 years!

For those of you married 15, 25, 30 years, you'd probably say this is not such a momentous occasion. However, although I've been married numerous times, I've never actually made it to the ten year mark, where I wasn't sitting in my lawyer's office filing the paperwork!

So there you go... this is BIG, this is worth celebrating! Ten years married to the same guy and still relatively happy!

T Minus 24 Hours (continued)

Ok, where did I end? Ah yes, Germany... the European country known for it warmth, hospitality and romantic atmosphere.

It all sounded quite nice a few months ago when we first started taking about it. A leisurely cruise on the rivers of Germany, stopping occasionally in the quaint little towns and villages that dot the countryside. Blond haired, rosy cheeked children runny through the streets laughing and eating weienerschnitzels.

What I hadn't really thought about at that time (and shame on me!) were some minor details like the current 14 degree temperature, snow covered runways, "deicing" of wings! A little shortsighted, if I do say so myself, but there you go.

To quote an old song, "Only the Good Die Young," so I should be fine. I'm not so sure about Nick though?

T Minus 24 Hours

With the holidays behind us (well behind me and my family anyway) tomorrow my husband and I set off on our long awaited two week, winter wonderland, tenth anniversary journey.

It's been a long time coming, as my pseudo Travel Agent husband began researching this trip years ago... well ok that may be a slight exgazeration. Nick (my wonderful husband) is very "detailed oriented," to say the least. To say the most would be to say he has OCD, but we won't go there for now... He put in many long hours sitting in front of a computer screen looking at travel websites, reading travel blogs, investigating travel reviews, scrutinizing other people's travel photos and working his balls off to find the most absolutely perfect, dreamlike, romantic venue for our 10 year wedding anniversary... and just as you've probably already guessed, we're going to Germany!

...but more about that later.